IES74146B2

IES74146B2 - A treatment device

Info

Publication number: IES74146B2
Authority: IE
Inventors: Joseph Frederick Fritsch; Roxanne Yvonne Fritsch
Original assignee: Joseph Frederick Fritsch; Roxanne Yvonne Fritsch
Priority date: 1996-01-04
Filing date: 1996-01-04
Publication date: 1997-07-02
Also published as: US5856900A; IES960003A2

Abstract

A cleaning device (1) for cleaning a video head and drum of a camcorder consists of a housing (2) for engaging the cassette receiving area of the camcorder. A brush (5) on a carrier arm (3) is urged from a rest position within the housing (2) into cleaning engagement with the head and drum under the control of a control mechanism (7). The control mechanism (7) is powered by a drive spindle in the cassette receiving area. A retaining latch (10) secured in the housing (2) consists of a camming member (14) for engaging the carrier arm (3) for retaining the carrier arm (3) and the brush (5) in the rest position. A portion (30) of the retaining latch (10) is resilient for urging the retaining latch (10) downwardly for retaining the carrier arm in the rest position. An engagement member (25) on the retaining latch (10) engages a light post (28) in the cassette receiving area as the housing (2) is being lowered into the cassette receiving area for releasing the retaining latch (10).

Description

A treatment device The present invention relates to a device for treating a component in a video playback and/or recording unit or a camcorder unit, or any other playback and/or recorder unit, such as, an audio tape recorder and/or playback unit, of the type which comprises a cassette receiving area for receiving a cassette type housing within which a recording tape is wound between a pair of spools, and a component which is to be treated, for example, cleaned, is adjacent, but spaced apart from the cassette receiving area. In particular, the invention relates to a treatment device of the type which comprises a housing, which is similar to a cassette housing, and which is engagable in the cassette receiving area of the unit, and which comprises a carrier arm on which a treating means, such as, a cleaning means for cleaning the component to be cleaned is located, the carrier arm being moveable from a rest position adjacent the housing to a treatment position with the cleaning means co-operating with the component to be treated.

Such treatment devices, typically, are cleaning devices for cleaning, for example, the video head and drum of a video recorder and/or playback unit or a camcorder unit. In such units the video head and video drum are S7* 1 4 6 located spaced apart from the cassette receiving area, and a recordable magnetic tape which is wound between a pair of spools in a tape cassette is engaged in the cassette receiving area. A plurality of guide rollers are moveable within the unit for withdrawing the magnetic tape from the cassette housing for urging the tape into co-operating engagement with the video head and drum for recording onto the tape or playing therefrom. Such video playback and/or recording units and camcorder units will be well known to those skilled in the art. Various types of cleaning devices are available for cleaning components, and in particular, the video head and drum of such units. In general, such cleaning devices comprise a cassette housing which is substantially identical to a conventional magnetic tape cassette, and either a cleaning tape or a brush or both are located in the housing for cleaning the video head and drum and/or other components of the unit. In cleaning devices which comprise a cleaning tape, the cleaning tape may be wound between a pair of spools which are similar to those onto which the magnetic tape of a conventional magnetic tape cassette is wound, and the cleaning tape is urged from the cassette housing by the guide rollers into cleaning engagement with the video head and drum. In cleaning devices which comprise a brush, the brush is mounted on a carrier arm, and the carrier arm is pivotal from a rest position with the carrier arm and the brush located adjacent the housing, to a cleaning position with the brush in engagement with the video head and drum for cleaning thereof. In cleaning devices which comprise a combination of a cleaning tape and a cleaning brush carried on a carrier arm located in a cassette housing, the carrier arm and cleaning brush are urged into cleaning engagement with the video head and drum as the cleaning tape is being urged into cleaning engagement with the video head and drum by the guide rollers. A cleaning device which comprises a carrier arm and cleaning brush only located in cassette housing is disclosed in European Patent Specification No. EP-A0,439,375. A cleaning device which comprises a combination of a cleaning tape and a carrier arm and cleaning brush located in a cassette housing is disclosed in European Patent Specification EP-A0,210,787.

Such cleaning devices, in general, function quite adequately, however, in certain cases, particularly, in the case of cleaning devices which comprise a cleaning brush and carrier arm only, if the carrier arm is not adequately set by the user to be in the rest position, and retains therein, when the cleaning device is being loaded into the cassette receiving area, the carrier arm may move just sufficiently from the rest position towards the cleaning position to become incorrectly engaged with the guide rollers as they are operated for withdrawing a tape from the cassette housing into cooperation with the video head and drum. This may cause damage to the carrier arm of the cleaning device, and more importantly to one or more of the guide rollers and/or other mechanisms of the video unit.

There is therefore a need for a cleaning device for a video playback and/or recording unit and/or a camcorder unit which overcomes these problems, and since the problem of inadvertent release of a carrier arm from a cassette housing may arise in other devices for carrying out other treatments of a component in a video playback and/or recording unit and/or a camcorder unit, or indeed, in any other playback and/or recording unit, whether video, audio, data or the like, there is a need for a treatment device for treating a component of such a unit which overcomes these problems.

The present invention is directed towards providing such a treatment device.

According to the invention there is provided a treatment device for treating a component in a camcorder unit, or a playback and/or recording unit of the type hereinbefore described, the treatment device comprising a housing for engaging in a cassette receiving area of the unit, a treating means for treating the component in the unit, a carrier arm mounted in the housing for carrying the treating means, the carrier arm being moveable between a rest position adjacent the housing, and a treating position whereby the treating means is co-operable with the component to be treated for treating thereof, and a main retaining means mounted in the housing for retaining the carrier arm in the rest position, the main retaining means being operable between a retaining condition for retaining the carrier arm in the rest position, and a release condition whereby the main retaining means is released for permitting movement of the carrier arm to the treating position, the main retaining means being responsive to the housing engaging in the cassette receiving area for operating the main retaining means from the retaining condition to the release condition.

In one aspect of the invention the main retaining means is responsive to the housing being almost completely located and engaged in the cassette receiving area of the unit for operating the main retaining means from the retaining condition to the release condition.

In another aspect of the invention the main retaining means co-operates with a component in the cassette receiving area which as the housing is being engaged in the cassette receiving area extends into the housing for operating the main retaining means from the retaining condition to the release condition.

In one aspect of the invention the main retaining means co-operates with a light post which is located in the cassette receiving area of the unit.

In another aspect of the invention an urging means for urging the carrier arm into the rest position is located on the main retaining means so that as the main retaining means is being operated into the retaining condition, the carrier arm is urged into the rest position. Preferably, the urging means comprises a camming means located on the main retaining means which is engagable with the carrier arm. Advantageously, the camming means comprises a camming member having a cam profile for engaging the carrier arm and progressively urging the carrier arm into the rest position as the main retaining means is operated into the retaining condition. Ideally, the camming means acts to retain the carrier arm in the rest position, and to gradually release the carrier arm from the rest position.

In one aspect of the invention the main retaining means comprises a latch member, and preferably, the latch member is resiliently urged into the retaining condition. Ideally, the resilient urging of the latch member into the retaining condition acts in cooperation with the camming means for urging the carrier arm into the rest position. Preferably, the latch member is an elongated latch member, one end of which carries a mounting means for mounting the latch member in the housing, and the other end of the latch member carries the treating means. Ideally, a portion of the latch member is resilient intermediate the mounting means and the treating means.

In another aspect of the invention an engagement means is provided on the main retaining means for engaging the component in the cassette receiving area with which the main retaining means is co-operable. Preferably, the engagement means defines an engagement surface, and ideally, the engagement surface is shaped for minimising biasing forces which the main retaining means may induce in the component of the unit.

In a further aspect of the invention the treating means comprises a cleaning means for cleaning a component in the unit, and preferably, for cleaning a video head and/or drum of the unit.

In another aspect of the invention a secondary retaining means is provided for retaining the carrier arm in the rest position, the secondary retaining means being responsive to rotation of a drive spindle located in the cassette receiving area of the unit for releasing the secondary retaining means.

Preferably, the main retaining means and the secondary retaining means are independent of each other.

Advantageously, a timing means is provided for timing a delay period prior to the secondary retaining means being operated to release the carrier arm. Advantageously, the timing means is responsive to the spindle in the cassette receiving area commencing to rotate.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof which is given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a treatment device according to the invention for cleaning a video head and drum of a video camcorder unit, a top wall of the treatment device has been removed, Fig. 2 is a sectional end elevational view of the treatment device of Fig. 1 on the line II-II of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is an end elevational view similar to Fig. of the treatment device of Fig. 1 illustrated in use on the line III-III of Fig. 1, with a portion of the treatment device in a different position, Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the treatment device of Fig. 1, Fig. 5 is a rear sectional elevational view of a 10 detail of the treatment device of Fig. 1 on the line V-V of Fig. 1, Fig. 6 is an end view of a detail of the treatment device of Fig. 1, Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a portion of the 15 treatment device of Fig. 1, Fig. 8 is an underneath plan view of the portion of Fig. 7, and Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of the portion of Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a treatment device according to the invention, which in this case is a cleaning device indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 for cleaning a video head and drum of a camcorder unit. Neither the camcorder unit, nor the video head and drum of the unit are illustrated. However, such camcorder units and the location of the video head and drum as well as their operation will be well known to those skilled in the art. Briefly, the camcorder unit comprises a cassette receiving area for receiving a magnetic tape cassette onto which video signals are recorded. The video head and drum are located close to but spaced apart from the cassette receiving area.

The cleaning device 1 comprises a housing 2 of injection moulded plastics material, which is of size and shape substantially identical to a cassette housing of a normal magnetic tape cassette of the type suitable for insertion in the cassette receiving area of the camcorder unit. A carrier arm 3 of injection moulded plastics material is mounted within the housing 2 as will be described below, and carries a cleaning means, namely, a cleaning brush 5 for cleaning the video head and drum. The carrier arm 3 extends from a control mechanism 7 which is located within the housing 2, and which is illustrated in block representation in the drawings. The control mechanism 7, in use, when the cleaning device 1 is engaged in the cassette receiving area of the camcorder unit engages a spindle located r within the cassette receiving area for, in normal use, t driving one of the spools onto which the magnetic tape of the tape cassette is wound. On rotation of the spindle the carrier arm 3 is moved from a rest position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 1 with the carrier arm 3 and the cleaning brush 5 located within and adjacent the housing 2, to a treating position, in this case, a cleaning position illustrated in broken lines in Fig. 1 with the cleaning brush 5 in cleaning engagement with the video head and drum for cleaning thereof. The operation and construction of such control mechanisms 7 and carrier arms 3 will be well known to those skilled in the art, and is substantially similar to a cleaning device which is supplied under the Trade Mark TRACKMATE by W.E.S.T. of Dublin, Ireland for cleaning the video head and drum of a camcorder unit.

A main retaining means which acts as a safety device for retaining the carrier arm 3 in the rest position comprises an elongated latch member, namely, a * retaining latch 10 of injection moulded plastics material. One end 11 of the retaining latch 10 is mounted to the housing 2, and the other end 12 of the retaining latch 10 carries a camming means, namely, a camming member 14 for engaging the carrier arm 3 and retaining the carrier arm 3 in the rest position.

A mounting means for mounting the end 11 of the retaining latch 10 securely to the housing 2 comprises a pin 16 of injection moulded plastics material which extends downwardly from a top wall 18 of the housing 2. The pin 16 engages a bore 19 in a post 20 which extends upwardly from a base 21 of the housing 2. The pin 16 tightly engages an opening 22 in the retaining latch 10 at the end 11 so that when the top wall 18 is assembled with the base 12 and the rest of the housing 2, the end 11 of the retaining latch 10 is tightly sandwiched between the top of the post 20 and the top wall 18. A locating pin 23 extending downwardly from the retaining latch 10 engages a recess 24 in the base 21 for locating and preventing pivotal movement of the retaining latch 10 about the pin 16.

The retaining latch 10 terminates in an engagement means which is provided by an engagement member 25 for engagement with and co-operating with a light post 28 of the camcorder unit for operating the retaining latch 10 between a retaining condition illustrated in Fig. 2 whereby the retaining latch 10 retains the carrier arm 3 in the rest position and a release condition illustrated in Fig. 3 for permitting the carrier arm 3 to be moved by the control mechanism 7 into the cleaning position. An opening 27 is provided in the base 21 for accommodating the light post 28 into the housing 2. The engagement member 25 defines an engagement surface 29 which is angled at an angle a relative to the base 21 of 7.5° approximately when the retaining latch 10 is in the retaining condition, so that when the retaining latch 10 is in the release condition, the engagement surface 29 extends substantially parallel to the base 21 (see Fig. 3) so that the action of the engagement member 25 on the light post 28 induces an axially downward force in the light post 28 for avoiding any danger of buckling the light post 28. A portion 30 of the latch member 10 which extends between the mounting end 11 and the camming member 14 is of reduced thickness, and forms a resilient portion 30 for facilitating movement of the latch member 10 between the retaining condition and the release condition, and for urging the retaining latch 10 into the retaining condition.

Turning now to the camming member 14, the camming member 14 is located intermediate the resilient portion 30 and the engagement member 25, and is provided with a cam profile face 31 which engages and co-operates with the carrier arm 3 for retaining the carrier arm 3 in the rest position. The cam profile face 31 also acts as an urging means for urging the carrier arm 3 into the rest position as the retaining latch 10 is moving from the release to the retaining condition as can be seen in Fig. 6 in the event that at the end of a cleaning cycle the carrier arm 3 is not returned fully to the rest position. The resilient forces in the resilient portion 30 of the retaining latch 10 are such as to be sufficient that in combination with the cam profile face 31, the carrier arm 3 is returned to the rest position as the retaining latch 10 is urged into the retaining condition. In this embodiment of the invention the retaining latch 10 extends from the mounting portion 11 downwardly at an angle φ of approximately 14° to the top wall 18 when in the retaining condition. In the retaining condition the cam profile face 31 makes an angle Θ to a perpendicular from the top wall 18 of approximately 14°.

Although not described or illustrated, a secondary retaining means is also provided in the control mechanism 7 for retaining the carrier arm 3 in the rest position. The secondary retaining means is responsive to rotation of the spindle which is engaged by the control mechanism 7 for releasing the carrier arm 3. A timing means (not shown) may be provided in the control mechanism 7 for delaying release of the carrier arm 3 by the secondary retaining means for a short period of time after commencement of rotation of the spindle. A suitable drive means (not shown) is provided in the r control mechanism 7 for transmitting drive from the spindle to the carrier arm 3 for urging the carrier arm 3 into the cleaning position. The carrier arm 3 is retained in the cleaning position by the control mechanism 7 for a cleaning cycle of sufficient length for cleaning the video head and drum. On termination of the cleaning cycle the secondary retaining means urges the carrier arm 3 into the rest position and retains the carrier arm 3 therein.

A pivotally mounted cover (not shown) is provided to cover the front face through which the brush 5 extends.

The cover is substantially identical to a conventional cover of a tape cassette.

In use, the cleaning device 1 is loaded into the cassette receiving area of a camcorder unit in similar fashion as a conventional magnetic tape cassette is loaded into the cassette receiving area. As the cleaning device 1 is being engaged in the cassette receiving area, the light post 28 extends progressively into the housing 2 through the opening 27 in the base 21, and engages the engagement surface 29 of the 1 engagement member 25 for urging the retaining latch 10 from the retaining condition to the release condition as the housing 2 is almost fully engaged in the cassette receiving area. The location of the retaining latch 10 in the housing 2 and the positioning of the engagement surface 29 is such that the retaining latch 10 is only urged into the release condition by the light post 28 when the cleaning device 1 is almost just fully engaged in the cassette receiving area. On the retaining latch 10 being moved into the release condition, the carrier arm 8 is free to be moved from the rest position to the cleaning position. However, the carrier arm 3 remains in the rest position until the carrier arm 3 has been released by the secondary retaining means and the drive means in the control mechanism 7 commences to urge the carrier arm 3 from the rest to the cleaning position. On the cleaning cycle having been completed the control mechanism 7 returns the carrier arm 3 from the cleaning position to the rest position.

As the cleaning device 1 is being ejected from the cassette receiving area, the housing 2 is raised upwardly on the light post 28, thereby permitting the latch member 10 to move into the retaining condition under the resilient action of the resilient portion 30 of the latch member 10. As the retaining member is being urged from the release condition to the retaining condition, should the carrier arm 3 not be fully returned to the rest position, the carrier arm 3 is engaged by the cam profile face 31 as illustrated in Fig. 6, and further movement of the latch member 10 into the retaining condition causes the cam profile face 31 to urge the carrier arm 3 into the rest position. Once in the rest position, and once the retaining latch 10 is in the retaining condition the action of the cam profile face 31 on the carrier arm 3 retains the carrier arm 3 in the rest position.

The advantages of the invention are many. By virtue of the fact that the retaining latch is operable only by the light post in the cassette receiving area ensures that there is no danger of the carrier arm being in any position other than the rest position while the cleaning device is being loaded into the cassette receiving area, and also, while various other components in the camcorder unit adjacent the cassette receiving area, for example, guide posts and the like are being moved into their operating positions. Thus, the possibility of the carrier arm and the cleaning brush becoming inadvertently engaged with the guide rollers as they are moving into their operating positions is effectively eliminated. Additionally, if for any reason the spindle with which the control mechanism is engagable is rotating while the cleaning device is being loaded into the cassette receiving area, the retaining latch continues to retain the carrier arm in the rest position, even if the secondary retaining means releases the carrier arm, or does not properly retain the carrier arm in the rest position.

While the retaining latch has been described as being co-operable with the light post, the retaining latch may be co-operable with any other component which projects into the housing as the cleaning device is being urged into the cassette receiving area. It will also be appreciated that a retaining latch of other shape and construction may be provided. It will of course be appreciated that any other suitable retaining means, besides a retaining latch, may be provided, and where the retaining means is to be resiliently urged into the retaining condition, any other suitable resilient urging means may be provided, for example, a spring or the like may be provided instead of relying on the inherent resilience of the retaining means.

It will also be appreciated that while the cleaning device has been described for cleaning a video head and drum of a camcorder unit, the cleaning device may be used for cleaning any other type of video unit, for example, a video player and/or recorder unit, in such case, the construction of the cleaning device would be such as to suit the particular unit into which the cleaning device is to be loaded. For example, it is envisaged that the cleaning device may be of the construction described and illustrated in European Specifications Nos. EP-A-0,439,375 or EP-A-0,210,787, and in which case, the main retaining means would act on the carrier arm which carries the cleaning brush.

It will of course be appreciated that the cleaning means may be provided by any other suitable means and may be for cleaning any other component besides a video head and/or drum.

Additionally, it is envisaged that other treating means for treating the component in ways other than cleaning may be used, for example, a demagnetising means may be provided, or a combination of a cleaning means and demagnetising means may be provided. It will also of course be appreciated that a cleaning device may be used for cleaning any other component in any other player and/or recorder unit, for example, an audio tape recorder or the like.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment hereinbefore described which may be varied in construction and detail.

Claims

1. A treatment device for treating a component in a • camcorder unit, or a playback and/or recording unit of the type hereinbefore described, the treatment device 5 comprising a housing for engaging in a cassette receiving area of the unit, a treating means for treating the component in the unit, 10 a carrier arm mounted in the housing for carrying the treating means, the carrier arm being moveable between a rest position adjacent the housing, and a treating position whereby the treating means is cooperable with the component to be treated for 15 treating thereof, and a main retaining means mounted in the housing for retaining the carrier arm in the rest position, the main retaining means being operable between a retaining condition for retaining the carrier arm in the rest 20 position, and a release condition whereby the main retaining means is released for permitting movement of the carrier arm to the treating position, the main retaining means being responsive to the housing engaging in the cassette receiving area for operating 25 the main retaining means from the retaining condition y to the release condition.

2. A treatment device as claimed in Claim 1 in which the main retaining means is responsive to the housing being almost completely located and engaged in the cassette receiving area of the unit for operating the · main retaining means from the retianing condition to the release condition.

3. A treatment device as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which the main retaining means cooperates with a component in the cassette receiving area, which as the housing is being engaged in the cassette receiving area extends into the housing for operating the main retaining means from the retaining condition to the release condition.

4. A treatment device as claimed in any preceding claim in which an urging means for urging the carrier arm into the rest position is located on the main retaining means? so that as the main retaining means is being operated into the retaining condition the carrier arm is urged into the rest position.

5. A treatment device for treating a component in a camcorder, or a playback and/or recording unit of the type hereinbefore described, the treatment device being substantially as described herein with reerence to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. S